Two Loan Sharks have been jailed after pleading guilty to illegal money lending at Cardiff Crown Court.
Melanie Griffiths aged 47 of Dumfries Street, Treorchy and her partner Jonathan Rees (known locally as Ronnie) aged 43 also of Dumfries Street, Treorchy were both sentenced at a hearing yesterday (18th March).
Jonathan Rees was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment for illegal money lending offences, and a further 6 weeks for offences relating to fraudulently claimed benefit. Rees was ordered to repay £18,609 of illegally claimed benefits, and a confiscation order for a further £25,683 was made under the Criminal Justice Act 1993.
Melanie Griffiths was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment for illegal money lending offences and was given a confiscation order of £30,780. Both offenders have been given six months to pay their confiscation orders – or they will be returned to jail for 18 months.
Officers from The Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit (WIMLU) executed entry warrants at Dumfries Street and Bute Street, Treorchy. Both persons were arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending.
During the search £33, 560 was recovered from a safe in the property along with documents supporting the allegation of illegal money lending.
Witnesses confirmed that they had taken out loans with Melanie Griffiths and Jonathan Rees over a six year period. They had been for relatively small amounts but when they fell behind with their payments both offenders used threats of violence to enforce the debt.
As part of the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit’s investigation, officers from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Counter Fraud department were contacted for additional information.
They accompanied the WILMU at the search warrants and uncovered evidence that Rees had been claiming Housing and Council Tax benefits for his Treorchy home, when he had failed to declare capital in the form of a flat he owned in Penygraig and the cash found in his safe.
He was also claiming Income Support and the Council Counter Fraud team took on this prosecution on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Steven Hay, Trading Standards Manager for the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit said: “Melanie Griffiths and Jonathan Rees preyed on young mums at the school gates and lured them into a situation that they would not easily escape. They used threats to intimidate them and had no regard for the welfare of the women or their children. It is important that people know that these loans are not enforceable by law.”
“I urge anyone who is a victim of a loan shark or knows someone who may be a victim to contact the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit 24 hour hotline on 0300 123 3311. All calls will be dealt with in confidence by one of our specialist officers.”
Nick Jones, Head of Finance at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Counter Fraud department is pleased with the outcome of this case, which is a clear example of what can be achieved when partners work together to seek sanctions against those who harm our communities.
“This is a successful case and I hope it sends a clear message to other offenders that many partner agencies are working together, sharing information and launching investigations to ensure the law is not broken.
“We are on hand to offer help and support to those residents who need it the most and we cannot have that work jeopardised by others who think it is acceptable to take money they are not entitled to.”
Contact Stop Loan Sharks 0300 5552222 or Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit 0300 123 3311.
To report a possible benefit fraud contact the Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
